Bendidee National Park and Bendidee State Forest Management Statement 2013

Park size: Bendidee National Park 923ha Legislative framework Bendidee State Forest 4,617ha  Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003  Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Bioregion: Southern Brigalow Belt Act 1999 (Cwlth)  Forestry Act 1959 QPWS region: South West  Native Title Act 1993 (Cwlth)  Nature Conservation Act 1992 Local government Goondiwindi Regional Council estate/area: Plans and agreements

State electorate: Southern Downs  China–Australia Migratory Bird Agreement  Japan–Australia Migratory Bird Agreement  Republic of Korea–Australia Migratory Bird Agreement  Recovery plan for the bull oak jewel butterfly Hypochrysops piceatus

Thematic strategies

 Fire Management Strategy  Pest Management Strategy

Brigalow scaly-foot Paradelma orientalis. Photo: DSITIA.

Vision Bendidee National Park and Bendidee State Forest will continue to conserve natural values, including remnant brigalow-belah communities and a variety of wildlife of the Southern Brigalow Belt bioregion. Conservation purpose Bendidee National Park was originally gazetted to conserve a remnant of brigalow–belah plant communities, which have been extensively cleared elsewhere in the region. Bendidee State Forest, situated immediately adjacent to the park’s northern boundary, is a source of cypress pine timber. It contains bulloak Allocasuarina luehmanni which is a major habitat for the endangered bulloak jewel butterfly Hypochrysops piceatus.

Bendidee National Park and Bendidee State Forest Management Statement 2013

Protecting and presenting the park’s values

Landscape Bendidee National Park and Bendidee State Forest lie in the Border Rivers Basin. Adjacent properties in the catchment have been cleared for agriculture and grazing. Heavy clay soil covers most of the protected areas which crack and form depressions known as ‘gilgais’ that hold water following rain. Brigalow–belah forest grows on the heavier soil with Cypress pine Callitris columellaris and poplar box forest Eucalyptus populnea growing on lighter soils. The diversity of plant communities provides a valuable refuge for sedentary wildlife and a sanctuary for transient which occur seasonally in the region.

Regional ecosystems The national park and state forest contain a number of plant communities that represent those which were formerly more widespread in the region and are of high conservation value. Five regional ecosystems are conserved in the park and state forest. Two regional ecosystems are endangered: 11.4.3 shrubby open forest that includes Acacia harpophylla and Casuarina cristata and 11.4.10 open forest containing Eucalyptus populnea, E. pilligaensis, Acacia harpophylla and Casuarina cristata (Table 1).

Native plants and Bendidee National Park and Bendidee State Forest contains over 150 species of mammals, birds, amphibians and , seven of which are of conservation significance (Table 2). Of the 30 amphibians and reptiles recorded, three are considered conservation significant: the near threatened rough collared Cyclorana verrucosa, vulnerable brigalow scaly-foot Paradelma orientalis and the endangered grey damelii. The little pied bat Chalinolobus picatus has recently been recorded on the park. It is listed as near threatened under state legislation and is threatened by habitat disturbance. The State forest area is of considerable interest to entomologists with over 89 invertebrates recorded on the parks. In particular the presence of the endangered bulloak jewel butterfly is of significance. This butterfly is reliant on the bulloak tree and a mutualistic attendant ant Anonychomyrma sp. for survival. Inappropriate fire regimes have been identified as a potential threat to the bulloak jewel butterfly due to possible impacts on mature bulloak trees and the attendant ant. The vulnerable glossy black-cockatoo Calyptorhynchus lathami is highly dependent on Casuarina and Allocasuarina species for food, including bulloak in the Bendidee area. Inappropriate fire regimes have been identified as a threat to glossy black-cockatoos through loss of bulloak forest. Bendidee National Park is of value to biologists and ecologists as it contains a significant area of intact brigalow communities. The endangered grass Homopholis belsonii has been recorded on the park it is threatened by clearing and inappropriate grazing regimes.

Aboriginal culture The landscape is of intrinsic cultural value to Traditional Owners. The extent of occupation and the degree of its cultural significance remains largely unknown.

Shared-history culture The degree of shared-history culture remains largely unknown in Bendidee National Park and Bendidee State Forest.

Tourism and visitor opportunities Self-sufficient day visitors can enjoy nature-based activities including walking, bird watching and nature appreciation. Remote camping is available in Bendidee National Park and adjacent Bendidee State Forest.

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Education and science Bendidee National Park and Bendidee State Forest provides a relatively undisturbed benchmark environment from which to assess the degree of change in surrounding agricultural lands.

Partnerships Cooperative activities with neighbours and lessees in regards to pest management control and fire management continues. Partnerships with state and local government agencies and other stakeholder's needs to be encouraged to ensure the values of the protected area and state forest are managed appropriately. Other key issues and responses

Pest management Pest plant species recorded on the park in include tree pear Opuntia tomentosa which is a declared class 2 pest plant in Queensland and bathurst burr Xanthium spinosum. These species appear to occur in relatively low numbers and do not appear to present a serious management issue. Harrisia cactus has been identified on the western boundary of the park. Infestations should be monitored to minimise their spread. Feral pigs, rabbits and foxes have been recorded in the protected areas. Feral pigs are relatively common in the district and numbers in Bendidee National Park and Bendidee State Forest fluctuate with seasonal conditions.

Fire management The incidence of fire on the protected areas has been low. Prescribed burns have not been conducted in recent times, but boundary fire breaks are regularly maintained to prevent the ingress of uncontrolled wildfires. A statement of fire management intent exists for Bendidee National Park and Bendidee State Forest. Specific fire management is required to maintain core cypress areas for timber production in the State forest. Any burning in the northern section of the State forest will need to take into account the requirements of bulloak jewel butterfly to maintain appropriate ground habitat.

Commercial use Sections of Bendidee State Forest are used commercially through cattle grazing, bee keeping and timber harvesting. The management of these sections is in line with the codes of practice for these activities.

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Management directions

Desired outcomes Actions and guidelines

Native plants A1. Establish or review key monitoring objectives for plant species and communities of conservation significance. Vegetation communities, including brigalow–belah are conserved and habitat diversity maintained.

Native animals A2. Establish or review key monitoring objectives for the bulloak jewel butterfly and other species of conservation significance. Knowledge of native species distribution and habitat A3. Investigate the theory that light grazing is beneficial to the bulloak jewel requirements are increased and butterfly. used for future management decisions.

Aboriginal culture A4. Encourage and support Traditional Owners in conducting a comprehensive cultural heritage survey including recording sites, stories, language names Aboriginal cultural values of the and cultural heritage places. protected area and state forest are identified and protected.

Tourism and visitor A5. Provide access for self-reliant campers or day visitors in a completely natural opportunities setting. Sustainable low key nature based recreational opportunities encourage visitors to appreciate the parks natural environment.

Partnerships A6. Continue to liaise with park neighbours about cooperative arrangements for park management issues, including fire and pest management. Neighbours and interested parties are aware of, and help achieve the desired management outcomes for the park.

Commercial use A7. Manage and monitor grazing levels for the bullock jewel butterfly and other species of conservation significance. Sustainable use of the state forest for timber production and grazing

Tables – Conservation values management

Table 1: Endangered regional ecosystems

Regional Description Biodiversity ecosystem status number

11.4.3 Acacia harpophylla and/or Casuarina cristata shrubby open forest on Cainozoic clay Endangered plains

11.4.10 Eucalyptus populnea or E. pilligaensis, Acacia harpophylla, Casuarina cristata open forest Endangered to woodland on margins of Cainozoic clay plains

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Table 2: Species of conservation significance

Scientific name Common name Nature Environment Back on Conservation Act Protection and Track 1992 status Biodiversity status Conservation Act 1999 status

Plants

Homopholis belsonii - Endangered Vulnerable Low

Animals

Calyptorhynchus lathami glossy black-cockatoo Vulnerable - -

Chalinolobus picatus little pied bat Near threatened - Medium

Cyclorana verrucosa rough collared frog Near threatened - Low

Hemiaspis damelii grey snake Endangered - Medium

Hypochrysops piceata bulloak jewel Endangered - High

Paradelma orientalis brigalow scaly-foot Vulnerable Vulnerable Medium

Table 3: Species listed in international agreements

Scientific name Common name Bonn CAMBA JAMBA ROKAMBA

Hirundapus caudacutus white-throated needletail -   

Merops ornatus rainbow bee-eater - -  -

Bonn – Bonn Convention CAMBA – China–Australia Migratory Bird Agreement JAMBA – Japan–Australia Migratory Bird Agreement ROKAMBA – Republic of Korea–Australia Migratory Bird Agreement

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